Disposable gutter broom assembly



Jan. 22, 1963 L. LECHENE DISPOSABLE GUTTER BROOM ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR.

I [fa A. (616 7 BY fiw 4 Jrrdkfl/ Jan. 22, 1963 L. L. LECHENE 3,074,094

DISPOSABLE GUTTER BROOM ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 17, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

((4 z. [IOWA f United States Patent Oflflce hm lfibd Patented Jan. 22,1963 3,074,094 DilSiPGSABLE GUTTER BROQM ASSEMBLY Leo L. Lechene, RD. 1,Box 364, Patton, Pa. Filed Get. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 145,602 2 Claims.(Cl. -180) This invention relates to a gutter broom assembly and moreparticularly to a disposable gutter broom assembly and a unit which whenworn out may be discarded.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of gutter brooms adapted for streetsweeping trucks and the like, various means have been employed formounting metal wire bristle tufts with respect to a power driven spindleon the truck, and wherein there always exists the difficulty of makingreplacements of the brush assembly when it becomes worn.

it is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide anovel form of disposable gutter broom assembly incorporating a bristlesupport plate, a simple means for individually mounting a set of bristletufts in a series around the periphery of the said mounting platetogether with a holddown plate mounted thereover for maintaining thebristle tufts in assembled relation and incorporating a means by whichthis assembly may be removably mounted upon power driven shaft of astreet sweeping truck.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a novel form ofdisposable gutter broom assembly wherein the mounting means for theassembled tufts are arranged in angular sectors which when assembledinto the form of a circle may be individually secured upon a powerdriven horizontally disposed power driven mounting plate merely by theapplication of a few bolts and nuts.

it is a further object of the present invention to provide a gutterbroom assembly of such type that when used and worn out the same may beeasily removed from the drive assembly by the loosening of a few boltsand a replacement instantly made.

it is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel formof gutter broom assembly and incorporating an annular support plate andmounting flange therefor, and means by which a plurality of circularlyspaced tufts of metallic bristles may be mounted and secured thereon sowhen assembled as to flare outwardly in the form of a circle to providea complete gutter broom.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specificationand claims in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary prospective view of a street cleaning truckincorporating the present gutter broom assembly.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, partially broken away plan View of the presentgutter broom assembly.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section on an increased scale taken on line 4-4of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a prospective view of an assembled bristle tuft.

FIG. 6 is a prospective view of one of the securing clips employed forsaid tuft.

it will be understood that the above drawings illustrate merely apreferred embodiment of the invention and that other embodiments arecontemplated within the scope of the claims hereinafter set forth.

Referring to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown a conventional typeof street sweeping truck indicated generally at 11, and whichincorporates a spindle type of support 12, secured to the truck as bythe bracket element 13 journaling and supporting therethrough the powerrotated driveshaft 14, which is connected in a conventional manner to apower takeolf from the truck engine.

Hub plate 15 of circular form carries a central upright hub 16 whichextends over and around the lower end of the driveshaft l4 and issuitably keyed thereto as at 17, and otherwise secured as by theassembly or set screws 18, shown in FIG. 3.

Arranged under the hub plate 15, there is provided the present powerrotated drive and mounting plate 1d, which is centrally secured upon theundersurface of the hub plate 15 by a series of fasteners or bolts 20.

This part of the gutter broom assembly forming a part of the presentinvention, and in normal operation once assembled, as above described,remains assembled with the disposable elements of the gutter broomassembly removably secured thereto in a manner now described.

In the present invention, and in connection with an illustrativeembodiment thereof, the gutter broom as sembly includes a series ofassembled sectors generally indicated at 21 and arranged into a circleand suitably secured to the said mounting plate 19 to provide thecompleted gutter broom shown in FIG. 1.

Each of the respective sectors 21, which make up the disposable gutterbroom assembly includes an angularly shaped bristle support plate 22,which is inclined upwardly and inwardly as shown in FIG. 3. Said plateincludes also the upwardly and outwardly inclined support flange 23,which terminates at its outer peripheral edge in the angular securingflange 32 hereinafter described in detail.

A series of spaced elongated radial slots 24 are formed through supportflange 23 and arranged in a circle as best shown in FIG. 2. Acorresponding series of radially extending bristle support rods 25 aremounted and secured upon the said support flange 23 and extendlengthwise of and over each of the said slots 24 respectively, as bestillustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

Each of the bristle support rods 25 at its lower end engages the loweredge portion of the angular bristle support plate 22 where it extendsupwardly from the adjacent support flange 23. A bristle tuft, generallyindicated at 26, and generally U-shape at its bight portion 31 isloosely mounted over the respective support rod 25 with the free endportions or bristle ends 27 extending upon opposite sides of the rod 25and downwardly through the adjacent or corresponding radial slot 24.

The individual bristles which make up the bristle tuft, are in thenature of elongated U-shaped wires 27, which are of steel, or similarmetal, and which are rectangular in cross section, and which arearranged in edge to edge relation to define a row of said bristles 27.The tuft is completed by a series of successive rows of said bristles,three of which rows are shown in the preferred illustrative embodimentof the invention, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

The respective legs of the bristle tufts 26 are maintained in angularlyrelated planes by the pairs of retaining clips 28 which extendtherearound and which are crimped inwardly as at 30, FIG. 5 to maintainthe assembled relation of the bristles arranged in rows and stacks, asshown in FIG. 5.

Accordingly, in simplifying the assembly of the present gutter broomstructure, a set of bristles as a complete unit tuft 26 is mountedlongitudinally over the corresponding support rod 25, as shown in FIG.3.

In this connection, the respective bristle support rods 25 are immovablysecured in position relative to the adjacent slot 24 over which theyextend by angular bending of the bristle support flange 23 as at 32 soas to operatively engage the outer end portion of the respective rod 25,immovably securing the same in place.

The securing clips 28 are of a simplified construction with free ends 29lending a degree of flexibility thereto whereby the same are easilymounted over and secured to the respective bristle elements 27, as abovedescribed.

It is noted; from. FIG. 3, for example, that the support plate 22, andthe holddown plate 36, are arranged in parallel relation, as are alsothe respective support flanges 23, and the holddown flanges 35. Theseplates are secured together by the series of upwardly extending bolts39, securedthereto by nuts 46.

A series of pairs of upsetbosses 37 and 38 are formed in the support andholddown plates within the flange portions thereof at 23 and 35, whichbosses are parallel to the power rotated drive and mounting plate 19 tofacilitate securing of the same bolts 39 to the said mounting plate andforv anchoring thereto by the series of additional fastening nuts 41 andassociated lock washers.

Accordingly, the respective sectors 21 which form the disposable gutterbroom assembly are arranged in units, when assembled, form a circularmember, and assembled units aresecured together by the bolts 39 and nuts40. These individually assembled units may then be projected upon theundersurface of mounting plate 19 and further secured thereto by thesaid bolts 39 extending up through the mounting plate and anchoredthereto, completing the assembly of the gutter broom construction.

Referring back to the construction shown in FIGS. 2 and 3', the saidradial slots 24, which areformed through the, bristle support plate 23,do not extend throughout the full width of the flange 23, but suflicientmetal is left, as indicated at points 33 and 34, FIG. 2 to support therespective ends of the rods 25 which are fixedly secured in position bythe crimped up'mounting flange 32.

In this connection, it is noted that the angular plates 22 and 36, aswell as the corresponding flanges 23 and 35, are so arranged that theirannular edge portions lie in a single plane so as to cooperatively bearagainst the undersurface of mounting plate 19,'as best shown in FIG. 3-.Accordingly, when the nuts 41 are 'drawn up and tightened relative tothe bolts 39, each of the individual sectors 21, which form the completegutter broom assembly, tightly bear up against the undersurface ofmounting plate 19. Due to the angularity' of the bristle support flanges23 and holddown flanges 35, it is seen that the respective bristle tuftsflare outwardly and downwardly, as best shown in FIGS; 1 and 3,to'complcte' the gutter broom assembly. It is contemplated as a part ofthe present invention that the respective-bristle s'upport'plate 22, andassociated support flange 23 could be made as an integral partand extendthroughout360 degrees in a horizontal plane. In a similar fashion, thecorresponding bristle holddown plate 36and associated holddown flange 37could be formed as an annular unit extending throughout 360 degrees in ahorizontal plane; 7

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, however, the respectivebristle support 'plateiand bristle hold: down plate formed as angularsectors forming a part of a. circle such as extending throughout an arcof de-' grees. These sectors are prefabricatedand bolted together as bythe bolts 39 and nutsf-tfl; Then theindividual units themselves arefurther secured to the undersurface of the mounting plate by adding theadditional nuts 41', completing the assembled construction, shown inFIG; 1.

While bolts have been shown asrthe preferred method of securing theplates together, it is contemplated that any other equivalent type offastening may be employed for this purpose.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that the sectors 21 which form the brushassembly may extend over an are greater than 90 degrees, if desired, sothat perhaps less sectors would be employed in forming a complete brushassembly.

Having described my invention, referencev should now be had to thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a gutter broom assembly having a mounting plate for mountingupon apower operated drive, and bristles secured to one face of such plate,the improvement comprising means for removably securing the bristles tothe plate, said means including an annular support flange abutting andremovably fastened to said plate but with portions spaced from said oneface of the plate and having a plurality of spaced apart, radial,elongated slots formed therethrough, with the slots together forming asubstantially circular pattern, each slot having a tuft of bristlesinserted through it, the tufts each being formed of a number ofelongated bristles bent at their centers to form a U-shape, with thebight of the tuft located between the flange and the plate and the twolegs of the U-shaped tuft extending, through the sameslot outwardly fromthe flange a considerable distance, an elongated rod inserted througheach of the bights, with each of the rods over.- lying itsrespectiveslotand extending beyond the opposite ends of its slot tocontact the flange at each end of its respective slot; a hold-down platearranged in the space between the flange and mounting plate and parallelto the flange, and means. removably clamping the hold-down plate towardsthe flange, the hold-down plate thus pressing against the tuft bight-sand thereby clamping the rods against the flange.

2. In a gutter broom assembly having a mounting plate for mounting uponapower operated drive, and bristles secured to. one face of such plate,the improvement comprising means for securing the bristles to the plate,said means including an annular support flange, substantially sf-shapedincross-section, removably fastened to the mounting plate with the endsof. its legs contacting said plate face and its apex remote therefrom,one of the flange legs being an outer leg and having'aplurality ofspaced apart, radially elongated, narrow slots formed therethrough,,withthe slots together forming a substantially circular pat-tern; thebristles being arranged in U- shaped tufts, with each tuft beinginserted through one slot and with its bight located between the flangeand mounting plate. and. the legs of the U-shaped tufts extendingthrough the respective slot and outwardly of the flange outer leg aconsiderable distance; each bight having anelongated, 'roundrodextending through it, the rods being radially arranged and overlying,their respective slots and extending, beyond, the opposite ends of theirrespective slots to contact the flange; an annularholddown platevoverlying and arranged parallel to the flange outer leg and locatedbetween the flange outer leg and the-mounting plate,,means.removablyclamping the holddown plate towards'the flange outer leg, the hold-downplatev pressing against the bights of the tufts and thus clamping thebiglits and rods against the flange outer leg.

. Referemies fitted in the file of this patent 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS"895,952

2,917,767] Lechene jDec. 22, 1959

1. IN A GUTTER BROOM ASSEMBLY HAVING A MOUNTING PLATE FOR MOUNTING UPONA POWER OPERATED DRIVE, AND BRISTLES SECURED TO ONE FACE OF SUCH PLATE,THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING MEANS FOR REMOVABLY SECURING THE BRISTLES TOTHE PLATE, SAID MEANS INCLUDING AN ANNULAR SUPPORT FLANGE ABUTTING ANDREMOVABLY FASTENED TO SAID PLATE BUT WITH PORTIONS SPACED FROM SAID ONEFACE OF THE PLATE AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART, RADIAL,ELONGATED SLOTS FORMED THERETHROUGH, WITH THE SLOTS TOGETHER FORMING ASUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR PATTERN, EACH SLOT HAVING A TUFT OF BRISTLESINSERTED THROUGH IT, THE TUFTS EACH BEING FORMED OF A NUMBER OFELONGATED BRISTLES BENT AT THEIR CENTERS TO FORM A U-SHAPE, WITH THEBIGHT OF THE TUFT LOCATED BETWEEN THE FLANGE AND THE PLATE AND THE TWOLEGS OF THE U-SHAPED TUFT EXTENDING THROUGH THE SAME SLOT OUTWARDLY FROMTHE FLANGE A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE, AN ELONGATED ROD INSERTED THROUGHEACH OF THE BIGHTS, WITH EACH OF THE RODS OVERLYING ITS RESPECTIVE SLOTAND EXTENDING BEYOND THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF ITS SLOT TO CONTACT THE FLANGEAT EACH END OF ITS RESPECTIVE SLOT; A HOLD-DOWN PLATE ARRANGED IN THESPACE BETWEEN THE FLANGE AND MOUNTING PLATE AND PARALLEL TO THE FLANGE,AND MEANS REMOVABLY CLAMPING THE HOLD-DOWN PLATE TOWARDS THE FLANGE, THEHOLD-DOWN PLATE THUS PRESSING AGAINST THE TUFT BIGHTS AND THEREBYCLAMPING THE RODS AGAINST THE FLANGE.